Sport

The Best Sunglasses for the Snow

Heading to the snow this winter? Whether you're packing for a weekend away or an entire snow season, protective sunglasses is something you shouldn't leave behind. In this guide, we break down the importance of wearing sunnies in the snow alongside our top eyewear picks that will enhance your performance on the slopes while keeping your eyes protected.

Published on: March 5, 2024

The Altimeter, Spine Tingler Silver/Silver HDPV Mirror Polarised Lenses

For a weekend on the slopes or if you're setting off on a full snow season, packing the right things for the snow is crucial. Warm socks, thermals and gloves are key to keeping warm, and packing a pair of protective sunnies or two is just as important in keeping your eyes protected. This step can be overlooked due to the cooler weather. However, snowy slopes and icy roads have some of the most intense glare that can reflect into our eyes and cause damage. This is where protective and polarised eyewear comes in.

In this guide, we list the top reasons to wear sunnies in the snow, as well as the styles we recommend you check out before heading off on your winter adventure.

Why You Need to Wear Sunglasses in the Snow

Before we recommend the best sunnies to take to the snow, it's important to know why you should wear them. While cooler winter days make us want to rug up, this doesn't mean that the sun isn't present, or as strong as it is in summer. At high altitudes, you're exposed to more harmful UV rays than at sea level. Without protective eyewear, you risk being exposed to a harmful eye condition called photokeratitis, described as feeling like sunburn on the eye. Uncomfortable and vision-impairing, photokeratitis or snow blindness results in a burned cornea after several hours of UV exposure.

Sunburns are not uncommon from a day on the slopes without proper protection. Wearing sunscreen and choosing protective eyewear with a polarised, mirrored or category 3 lens is an essential step in staying sun-safe. For the best protection against glare that bounces off snow, go for a polarised lens, as these sunglasses have a special filter that blocks harsh light from hitting your eye. Plus, they can offer heightened colour and contrast, allowing you to see in more detail.

What to Look for When Choosing Sunglasses for the Snow

Polarised lenses: for the best protection against glare that bounces off snow, go for a polarised lens, as these sunglasses have a special filter that blocks harsh light from hitting your eye. Plus, they can offer heightened colour and contrast, allowing you to see more detail.
Mirrored coatings: mirrored sunnies don't just look good, but they also reflect excess light away from hitting the lens. This is especially beneficial in strong light conditions, increasing visual clarity.
Wraparound frames: there's nothing worse than speeding down a slope and your sunglasses slipping off. Wraparound frames are the most secure shape as they hug the contours of your face. Plus, they can block light from obstructing your peripheral vision.
Lens technology: many sports-performance brands offer specialised lens technology that aids in enhancing your performance in the snow.

The Best Sunglasses for the Snow

Oakley Sutro

Favoured by cyclists and runners, the Oakley Sutro is the ultimate all-rounder when it comes to fast-paced, action-filled sports. The Sutro's expansive shield design and comfortable, lightweight frame make it the perfect pair for skiing, snowboarding and everything else in between. Offering superior coverage and an unobstructed view from the shield design, these Sutro's also come in a Prizm Snow™ mirrored lens, engineered to heighten contrast on the mountain in a range of different snow and light conditions.

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Smith Vert PivLock

The Vert PivLock sunglasses by Smith are a broad shield shape with a rimless and lightweight construction, perfect for high-speed descent down snowy slopes with unobstructed visibility. Enjoy an unbounded focus and amplified detail on bright alpine terrain with Smith's signature ChromaPop™ lens technology. The Choromapop opal mirror lens is ideal for high light days on the slope, intensifying contrast and clarity so you can see what's coming.

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Spy Scoop 2

If shield sunglasses aren't your style, the Spy Scoop 2 sunglasses are a sleek and sporty wraparound pair of sunnies that ticks all the boxes. The Scoop 2 has a built-in ventilation system that increases air flow and decreases fogging, which provides a clear and unobstructed view. Combined with non-slip rubber nose pads and a comfortable wraparound frame, these sunnies will stay secure while you're racing down the mountain. Spy's HD+ lens technology enhances colour and contrast, while the mirrored lens aids in deflecting harsh light.

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Oakley Clifden

With the reputation as the best pair of mountaineering sunglasses, the Clifden is equally equipped for the snow. The Clifden comes in a range of colourways and lens technologies, including a Prizm Snow™ lens, our pick for the Clifden is the Prizm Black polarised lens that is perfect for those bluebird days. The dark grey lens is best for bright light conditions, while the polarised lens will block glare reflected from the icy terrain. The Clifden features a large lens with side shields to protect your peripheral vision as well as an integrated leash for convenience.

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Vuarnet Round Horizon

Olympic influenced brand, Vuarnet, was founded by an optician and ski-enthusiast committed to creating exceptional lenses to protect him on the slopes to the streets. Round Horizon is a style that does just that, fitted with Vaurnet's signature natural mineral glass lenses that absorb up to 98% of infrared rays and will stand up against the harsh conditions of the slopes. In addition, blue polarised lenses to tackle the bright light reflected off the snow with have you travelling with ease and clarity.

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